If you wear glasses or contact lenses at work, make sure you have a second pair of glasses readily available to you at all times. If your glasses become damaged or you lose a contact lens, you need to immediately get your sight back and a “back up” pair of glasses will make that happen. If you’re a day shifter and you wear prescription sunglasses, make sure you always have your “clear” glasses (and a flashlight) with you as well.
Dave Smith is an internationally known motivational speaker, writer and law enforcement trainer who has been an integral part of the Calibre Press family for over 20 years. As a career police officer, Dave held positions in patrol, training, narcotics, SWAT, and management. In 1980 he developed the popular "Buck Savage" survival series videos and was the lead instructor for the Calibre Press "Street Survival" seminar from 1983 to 1985.
He was a contributor to Calibre's popular "Tactical Edge" handbook and helped pave the way for what "Street Survival" is today. Dave joined the Law Enforcement Training Network in 1989 and was the general manager of Calibre Press until January of 2002. Now president of Dave Smith & Associates, a law enforcement & management consulting company based in Illinois, Dave has developed hundreds of programs across the spectrum of police & security training needs.
Dave is now the senior instructor for the Street Survival Seminar, the Director of Video Training for PoliceOne Video and author of the new book "In My Sights." His experiences as officer, trainer, manager, and police spouse lend a unique perspective to the "Street Survival" experience. Visit Dave's website at www.jdbucksavage.com.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Have a "excite" strategy on traffic stops
Submitted by:
Lt. Dan Marcou
There is one moment when every officer should couple the knowledge and experience of the veteran with the hyper-vigilance of the rookie just out of the academy. That oft-repeated moment is when a driver or occupant exits the vehicle — expectedly or unexpectedly — during a vehicle contact.
The vigilant officer will not miss:
1. Furtive movements (reaching for or disposing of something.)
2. Whispered (or foreign language) discussion with other occupants.
3. A suspect who reaches for gears instead of door handle.
4. A wallet tossed back into the vehicle.
5. Any hands suddenly disappearing from view during the process.
6. A suspect scanning the area for witnesses or an avenue of escape.
7. Readjusting clothing to conceal a weapon.
8. A tap lightly to an area to make sure the weapon or contraband is still there and concealed.
9. An unsteady step possibly caused by impairment.
10. A delayed exit on command.
11. An unsolicited exit.
12. “I might kill you,” body language.
13. The initiation of a sudden assault!
14. Feel free to add more in comments.
Every time the door opens (yours or theirs) on a vehicle contact it should have the same effect on a street officer as the bell has on a prize fighter. You may not get up swinging, but should be alert, in a defensible position, on guard and fully prepared to defend yourself.
Be careful out there and for every exit, have an exit strategy.
Lt. Dan Marcou
There is one moment when every officer should couple the knowledge and experience of the veteran with the hyper-vigilance of the rookie just out of the academy. That oft-repeated moment is when a driver or occupant exits the vehicle — expectedly or unexpectedly — during a vehicle contact.
The vigilant officer will not miss:
1. Furtive movements (reaching for or disposing of something.)
2. Whispered (or foreign language) discussion with other occupants.
3. A suspect who reaches for gears instead of door handle.
4. A wallet tossed back into the vehicle.
5. Any hands suddenly disappearing from view during the process.
6. A suspect scanning the area for witnesses or an avenue of escape.
7. Readjusting clothing to conceal a weapon.
8. A tap lightly to an area to make sure the weapon or contraband is still there and concealed.
9. An unsteady step possibly caused by impairment.
10. A delayed exit on command.
11. An unsolicited exit.
12. “I might kill you,” body language.
13. The initiation of a sudden assault!
14. Feel free to add more in comments.
Every time the door opens (yours or theirs) on a vehicle contact it should have the same effect on a street officer as the bell has on a prize fighter. You may not get up swinging, but should be alert, in a defensible position, on guard and fully prepared to defend yourself.
Be careful out there and for every exit, have an exit strategy.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Quick and Easy Weapons Wipe
Submitted by:
Virgal Bressner
Here is an easy way to keep wipes with your favorite gun oil or solvent on them handy. You will need:
• one pack of travel sized baby wipes
• your favorite oil or solvent
• one large zip lock bag
Take the baby wipes out of their package, unfold them and lay them out to dry. Once they are dry fold them back up and put them in the zip lock bag. Pour enough oil/solvent in to completely saturate the wipes. Press out excess air as you close the bag.
Keep these on hand and keep your duty weapons running.
Virgal Bressner
Here is an easy way to keep wipes with your favorite gun oil or solvent on them handy. You will need:
• one pack of travel sized baby wipes
• your favorite oil or solvent
• one large zip lock bag
Take the baby wipes out of their package, unfold them and lay them out to dry. Once they are dry fold them back up and put them in the zip lock bag. Pour enough oil/solvent in to completely saturate the wipes. Press out excess air as you close the bag.
Keep these on hand and keep your duty weapons running.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Dash Cam Shooting Video, Legal?
In this video there never is a mention of shooting at a fleeing felon. Is that legal. Not what I was taught. You be the judged. Oh and ya, I would have done the same thing.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Where Are Your Handcuffs
Submitted by:
J. Wade
Pitt County Sheriff's Office, NC
I’ve seen way too many guys carrying handcuffs on their duty belt right in the middle of their back. Please don't do this. Think about it, if (when) you get into a fight in which you fall back, you're going to fall right on them. There is a lot of potential to cause some serious issues with your spine and take you out.
Just a tip.
J. Wade
Pitt County Sheriff's Office, NC
I’ve seen way too many guys carrying handcuffs on their duty belt right in the middle of their back. Please don't do this. Think about it, if (when) you get into a fight in which you fall back, you're going to fall right on them. There is a lot of potential to cause some serious issues with your spine and take you out.
Just a tip.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Compliance leads to control
Rich Von Voigt
Riverhead PD, New York
10/31/2011
When working on the street you deal with all kinds of calls from barking dogs to man with a gun. One of the most important things you can hope for when arriving on a scene is compliance — people actually listening to you.
Your presence will get their attention. Your commands must be:
• clear enough to be understood
• loud enough to be heard
• short and to the point
If you don't get compliance you don't have control. When you tell a subject to move away from an area, or turn off the ignition, or drop whatever they have in their hands this is not a request — this is a command. If they are not doing as you asked and they are trying to negotiate a deal, you do not have control... and this may be a bad time to move toward a subject.
It is important to also understand that noncompliance may also lead to physical resistance once you tell them they are under arrest and you move in to cuff. So the point of this tip is to set up your game plan based on your subject response to your arrival, verbal commands, and the reaction you are getting from the subject.
Haste makes waste and could get you in over your head. Be patient, be alert and if an arrest looks imminent, wait for back up. Personal safety is on you.
Riverhead PD, New York
10/31/2011
When working on the street you deal with all kinds of calls from barking dogs to man with a gun. One of the most important things you can hope for when arriving on a scene is compliance — people actually listening to you.
Your presence will get their attention. Your commands must be:
• clear enough to be understood
• loud enough to be heard
• short and to the point
If you don't get compliance you don't have control. When you tell a subject to move away from an area, or turn off the ignition, or drop whatever they have in their hands this is not a request — this is a command. If they are not doing as you asked and they are trying to negotiate a deal, you do not have control... and this may be a bad time to move toward a subject.
It is important to also understand that noncompliance may also lead to physical resistance once you tell them they are under arrest and you move in to cuff. So the point of this tip is to set up your game plan based on your subject response to your arrival, verbal commands, and the reaction you are getting from the subject.
Haste makes waste and could get you in over your head. Be patient, be alert and if an arrest looks imminent, wait for back up. Personal safety is on you.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Rotate your pistol magazines
Submitted by:
John L. Carp
There are some truths and some misconceptions about the durability of pistol magazines. It would seem that everyone has an opinion, but most are based upon conjecture and not science.
The truth is that modern magazines and their related components are the best that they have ever been. Having said that, all officers must understand that magazines are mechanical devices and as such, are subject to wear, tear, and breakage. The weakest link in any semi automatic feeding system is the magazine. Most frequently issues with feeding reliability are as a direct result of spring tension within the magazine.
Magazines left loaded for long periods of time are subject to spring set, which equates to a lack of upward pressure on cartridges stored, as the weapon cycles. Having said all of that, I have found an easy fix that I teach my students. For any given pistol, I recommend ownership of a minimum of nine (9) magazines. Three will be carried daily, three will be at ‘rest’ left unloaded and three will be dedicated as range only magazines. I typically tell my students to mark the base plate of their range magazines with a dab of bright nail polish, so that the magazines that are dropped, kicked, stepped on and dirty never get mixed in with duty magazines. That leaves us with six additional magazines.
My recommendation is that when your duty ammunition is fired or turned in at requalification time, your fresh ammunition draw is then loaded in to the magazines that have remained empty during the last cycle. Then the magazines most recently left loaded are placed in a ‘rest’ mode until the next cycle. Over the last twenty plus years of firearm training, I have found this technique to be the very best at eliminating magazine issues.
John L. Carp
There are some truths and some misconceptions about the durability of pistol magazines. It would seem that everyone has an opinion, but most are based upon conjecture and not science.
The truth is that modern magazines and their related components are the best that they have ever been. Having said that, all officers must understand that magazines are mechanical devices and as such, are subject to wear, tear, and breakage. The weakest link in any semi automatic feeding system is the magazine. Most frequently issues with feeding reliability are as a direct result of spring tension within the magazine.
Magazines left loaded for long periods of time are subject to spring set, which equates to a lack of upward pressure on cartridges stored, as the weapon cycles. Having said all of that, I have found an easy fix that I teach my students. For any given pistol, I recommend ownership of a minimum of nine (9) magazines. Three will be carried daily, three will be at ‘rest’ left unloaded and three will be dedicated as range only magazines. I typically tell my students to mark the base plate of their range magazines with a dab of bright nail polish, so that the magazines that are dropped, kicked, stepped on and dirty never get mixed in with duty magazines. That leaves us with six additional magazines.
My recommendation is that when your duty ammunition is fired or turned in at requalification time, your fresh ammunition draw is then loaded in to the magazines that have remained empty during the last cycle. Then the magazines most recently left loaded are placed in a ‘rest’ mode until the next cycle. Over the last twenty plus years of firearm training, I have found this technique to be the very best at eliminating magazine issues.
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